Lind Town Council begins engineering consultant search for stormwater project

During the May 22 meeting, the Lind Town Council authorized staff to begin the advertising process for hiring an engineering consultant. The selected engineering firm would help the Town in drafting an application for a stormwater improvement project.

Mayor Paula Bell said before crews can begin the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) street improvement project for Sixth Street, the stormwater improvements need to be installed. She added the Town still has the FEMA grant funding.

At the May 8 meeting, the Council voted to terminate its contract with Stantec Engineering for the Storm Water project, after the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) denied the request to extend the project’s deadline to June 2019.

Bell said she contacted Ecology Stormwater Grants Project Manager Brandy Reynecke, who acknowledged the Town’s FEMA project funding being dependent on the Storm Water project. Reynecke said she believes the Town would have a strong basis for a competitive grant application.

Prior to the May 22 meeting, Council Members Jim Dworshak and Kathy Vedder met with Century West’s Steve Nelson. He said the Town needs to hire an engineering consultant to conduct the approval process for the grant.

In other action items, the Council authorized the purchase of a new chlorine pump in Well 7 for $984.

In an email, Town Engineer Joe Pessutti explained crews discovered the drive shaft in the old pump was corroded and beyond repair. He recommended the Town purchase a new pump, which exceeds the budgeted amount to repair the equipment.

Pessutti added the cost to repair the damaged fire hydrant was $3,000, which was half his estimate of repair.

To prepare for Lind Derby weekend, the Council approved the closure of Smart Hill on Sunday, June 10, for Coaster Car Races.

Bell informed the Council the Town had been invited to join Avista’s Solar Select Program. Through the program, Avista will provide renewable solar energy to the company’s large commercial and industrial electronic users in Washington state.

Bell explained the only facilities eligible for the program are the pumps on the Town’s wells and wastewater treatment facility. She added the Council can revisit the matter at another meeting and vote on the agreement, which must be submitted to Avista on July 14.

Council Member Richard Baldwin said he received information about Washington State laws and regulations pertaining to off-road and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). This was in response to people operating ATVs in Town.

According to the resource sheet, the vehicles are not street-legal and cannot be operated on the Town’s streets.

Bell said the Town would not need to pass an ordinance prohibiting off-road vehicles in Lind because Washington State laws prohibits the activity.

Council Member Rose Elkington recommended office staff include a notice in the utility bills with information about laws for off-road vehicles and ATVs, as well as encourage residents to notify the Adams County Sheriff’s Office if they see people operating them on city streets.

Substitute Clerk Loni Goodman recommended if the Council wants to pass an ordinance prohibiting off-road vehicles and ATVs in Town, they need to find a way to enforce the it.

She noted it appears to be a select group who are speeding and causing vandalism with the vehicles.

At the end of the meeting, Bell announced Kim Michaels resigned from her position as the Town’s Clerk-Treasurer. Office staff will work to cover the office hours while the Town begins searching for a replacement for the position.